The prebiotics 2′-fucosyllactose prevent high-fat diet induced obesity via the promotion of thermogenesis and modulation of gut microbiota
Tiange Li, Xiaoxia Lin, Xueying Mao, Siru Chen, Zhiqiang Feng, Yankun Fu, Peijun Zhao, Xianqing Huang, Yan Ma, Lianjun Song, Qiuyan Zhao, Tianlin Wang
Abstract
• 2′-FL alleviated obesity in HFD mice. • 2′-FL increased energy expenditure and adaptive thermogenesis in HFD mice. • 2′-FL induced the browning of iWAT and increased the activity of BAT. • 2′-FL improved the diversity, structure and composition of gut microbiota. 2′-fucosyllactose (2′-FL) is one of the most prevalent milk oligosaccharides. In this study, the anti-obesity effect of 2′-FL was explored in high-fat diet (HFD)-fed mice. Results showed that 2′-FL alleviated body weight gain, improved serum lipid profiles and increased energy expenditure. Under cold exposure, 2′-FL group showed higher body and rectal temperature, improving adaptive thermogenesis. 2′-FL alleviated lipid accumulation, increased mitochondrial DNA content, as well as upregulated the protein expression of thermogenic markers including UCP1, PRDM16, PGC-1α and the phosphorylation of AMPK in both white and brown adipose tissue. 2′-FL also increased the diversity of gut microbiota in HFD mice. The Bacteroides / Firmicutes ratio, and the Bifidobacterium abundance were increased, while Lachnospiraceae abundance was decreased after 2′-FL treatment. Moreover, 2′-FL to HFD mice altered the bile acid profiles at levels comparable to normal diet group. These results indicates that 2′-FL promotes thermogenesis and modulates gut microbiota to alleviate obesity.